Holder for an object in a floral display

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a holder for an object associated with a floral display. The holder includes a stalk extending upwardly, and formed integrally and generally perpendicular with a support. The support at a distal portion forms a plurality of grooves for receiving a tie fastened to the object.

The present invention generally relates to floral displays, and particularly, relates to a holder for an object associated with a floral display.

Floral displays are popular gifts, and usually include a tray and a support material for receiving the stalks of the flowers and/or other plants. However, floral displays suffer from a disadvantage, namely that floral displays generally have a relatively brief shelf life of only one or two weeks. Consequently, the gift given is fairly fleeting.

To provide a more long-lasting gift, often the flowers and/or other plants are associated with an object such as a keepsake or an ornament. The keepsake can be a piece of jewelry or a stuffed toy, such as a teddy bear. A stand can be provided to support the object in the floral display. The stand is provided to stabilize the object in the floral display, particularly when the floral display is in transport to the recipient.

It is desired that such stands are economical to manufacture yet provide stability for the object, particularly during transport. Also, it would be beneficial for such stands to provide a means to secure an ornament to the stand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a holder for a floral display includes a post for securing an ornament having a bulbous main body tapering at an upper portion to connect to a generally cylindrical stem, and a tray or container for the floral or plant cuttings. The post includes a main substantially vertical stalk connected or formed integrally with two or three substantially horizontal arms or supports positioned at different elevations, on and in a perpendicular relation with, the stalk. The stalk has a generally horizontal cross-section T-shape from its bottom end to the lowest support, and a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section upward from the lowest support. Near the bottom end of the stalk, the backside of the T-shaped cross-section tapers to form a wedge.

The lowest support includes a pair of arms initially expanding outwardly from the stalk and curving inwards at their respective ends to surround a portion of the body of the ornament. Optionally, a middle support positioned above the lowest support also has a pair of prongs or arms for securing the neck of the ornament. The middle support includes a substantially horizontal shaft extending from the stalk and terminating in arms expanding outwardly from the shaft. The arms of the middle support have a lesser expansion than the arms of the middle support. The top support is formed integrally with the top of the stalk via a curved portion or elbow. The curved portion forms roughly a 90° angle positioning the top support generally perpendicular with the stalk. The top support terminates in a portion forming a series of straight, angled or S-shaped grooves with a raised rounded tap in front. This rounded tap is used to secure the wire holder, in a cap of an ornament, to the top holder support.

The container for the floral or plant cuttings includes a base and walls extending upwardly and outwardly from the base creating a void for receiving a support material, such as foam, for supporting the plant or floral cuttings. Optionally, two columns formed integrally with the base extend upward to further secure the support material. A bracket is formed integrally with one wall of the container for forming a cavity. The bracket forms a T-shaped cavity when viewing a horizontal cross-section near the top of the bracket. The wall tapers inwardly to intrude upon the cavity to reduce its horizontal cross-section near the base. This cavity is shaped to receive and secure the bottom end of the stalk.

In another embodiment, a holder for an object associated with a floral display includes a stalk extending upwardly and formed integrally and generally perpendicular with a support. The support at a distal portion forms a plurality of grooves for receiving a tie fastened to the object.

In a further embodiment, a holder for an object associated with a floral display includes a stalk extending upwardly, formed integrally and generally perpendicular with a support. The support at a distal portion forms a plurality of grooves for receiving a wire holder fastened to the object, such as to its cap.

The holder for a floral display of the present invention can be designed to be compact in shape, reliable in operation, durable in use, and economical in manufacture. The holder secures the object associated with the floral display to withstand the rigors of transport. Moreover, the holder can be designed to accommodate ties or wire holders that may vary in length from one tie or wire holder to the next to facilitate mass production of the floral display.

As used herein, the term “floral display” means a display including, whole or in part, at least one plant, such as a flower, a herb, a fern, or another plant acting as a green filler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary floral display.

FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of an exemplary tray.

FIG. 3 is a front, elevational view of an exemplary holder.

FIG. 4 is a side, elevational view of an exemplary holder.

FIG. 5 is a top, plan view of an exemplary holder.

FIG. 6 is a bottom, plan view of an exemplary holder.

FIG. 7 is a back, elevational view of an exemplary holder.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another exemplary holder.

FIG. 9 is a partial, top, plan view of an exemplary support of FIG. 8.

As depicted in FIGS. 1-8, an exemplary floral display 100, including a holder 200 and a tray 300, is depicted. The tray 300 includes a base 302, a stalk retainer 304, a first wall 310, a second wall 312, a third wall 314, and a fourth wall 316. The tray 300 can receive a support material 150, such as foam, for supporting plant or floral cuttings 160. The base 302 is substantially rectangular and formed integrally with the walls 310, 312, 314, and 316. The walls 310, 312, 314, and 316, positioned generally perpendicular with the base 302, rise upwardly and outwardly from the base 302. The stalk retainer 304 is formed integrally with the first wall 310 and the base 302 and is positioned generally perpendicular with respect to the base 302. The retainer 304 forms a T-shaped cavity 306 when viewing a horizontal cross-section of the retainer 304. The wall 310 tapers inwardly to intrude upon the cavity 306 to reduce the size of the horizontal cross-section of the cavity 306 near the base 302.

The holder 200 includes a stalk 210, a rib 212, a pair of arms 220, and a support 260. The stalk 210 is orientated substantially vertically and is formed integrally with the support 260 via a curved elbow 264. The stalk 210 and rib 212 are coupled together using any suitable means such as adhesives and mostly form a horizontal cross-section T-shape from below the pair of arms 220 to a tapered bottom end 214. Near the bottom end 214 of the stalk 210, a backside 216 of the stalk 210 tapers to form a wedge 218. The wedge 218 of the stalk 210 can be inserted into the cavity 306 of the retainer 304 to secure the holder 200 between the retainer 304 and the wall 310.

The pair of arms 220 is attached to the holder 200 using any suitable means such as adhesives. The pair of arms 220 includes a first arm 230 and a second arm 240, which are preferably coupled to the stalk 210 in mirrored alignment. Each arm 230 and 240 desirably extends substantially perpendicularly from the stalk 210 with respective curved portions 232 and 242.

The support 260 is positioned generally traversely, preferably at angle of 45°-135°, optimally perpendicular, to the stalk 210 and optimally parallel to the pair of arms 220. The support 260 extends horizontally from the stalk 210 and forms at a distal portion 262 a plurality of grooves 266, preferably from two to ten, optimally four, substantially straight and parallel, grooves 266. A tab 270 having a substantially rectangular face 272 is coupled, using any suitable means such as adhesives, to the support 260. Referring to FIG. 7, the tab 270 extends higher than the top of the support 260.

An object 120, such as an ornament 122, can be hung from the support 260. Particularly, the ornament 122 can include a neck 124 that receives a tie 130. The tie 130 can be a wire, a string, or a cable. As depicted in FIG. 1, the tie 130 can be attached to the neck 124 and form a loop 132. The tie 130 can be positioned on the support 260 by placing the loop 132 over the tab 270 and allowing the loop 132 to reside in one of the plurality of grooves 266. In this embodiment, the holder 200 has more tolerance for hanging an object 120 where the tie 130 may be chosen from a lot of ties 130 that may vary in length. Particularly, the holder 200 does not restrict the neck of the ornament 122. The pair of arms 220 prevents excessive movement of the ornament 122 by at least partially surrounding the ornament 122 as depicted in FIG. 1.

An alternative embodiment of a holder 500 is depicted in FIG. 8. This holder 500 is similar to the holder 200 except that the holder 500 also includes a third arm 540 positioned between a pair of arms 520 and a support 560. The third arm 540 extends substantially perpendicular from a stalk 510 and substantially parallel to the pair of arms 520 and the support 560. The third arm 540 terminates in a pair of prongs 542, namely a first prong 544 and a second prong 546, where each prong 544 and 546 in turn terminates in a respective bulbous protrusion 548 and 550. The pair of prongs 542 can further stabilize an object 120 such as an ornament 122 by partially surrounding the neck 124 of the ornament 122.

An alternative embodiment of a support 560 is depicted in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the support 560 may terminate in a distal portion 562 forming a plurality of angled or S-shaped grooves 566 for receiving the tie 130.

The holder 200 or 500 and the tray 300 can be made of any suitable material such as metal or plastic. Preferably, the holder 200 or 500 and the tray 300 are made of plastic. As an example, the holder 200 or 500 can be made of polystyrene and the tray 300 can be made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer.

The entire disclosure of any cited applications, patents, and publications, is hereby incorporated by reference.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 

1-8. (Canceled).
 9. A floral display, comprising: a tray for containing a bed of porous material for supporting stems of plant cuttings; and a holder with an ornament or a keepsake comprising a substantially vertical stalk, a support, and a tab at a free end of the support wherein the substantially vertical stalk extends upwardly from the tray and is formed integrally and generally transversely with the support, wherein the support at a distal portion is coupled to the tab and has a plurality of grooves for receiving a tie fastened to the ornament or keepsake.
 10. A floral display according to claim 9 wherein the support extends perpendicular to the vertical stalk.
 11. A floral display according to claim 9 wherein the tab has a substantially rectangular flat face.
 12. A floral display according to claim 9, wherein the tie is a wire, a string, or a cable.
 13. A floral display according to claim 9, wherein the distal portion forms four, substantially straight and parallel, grooves.
 14. A floral display according to claim 9, wherein the distal portion forms four angled or S-shaped grooves.
 15. A floral display according to claim 9, wherein the tab extends higher than the top of the support.
 16. A floral display according to claim 9, wherein the distal portion forms two-ten, substantially straight and parallel, grooves. 